Anyone driven themselves to the hospital for labour?!

[PinkPanther27]

OK, the title may sound a bit crazy but my other half doesnt drive and my parents are 10 miles away and I may find it hard to get hold of my Dad if its during the day as he works all over the place. I've also been told I need to go into hospital earlier to have antibiotics intravenously as I am Group B Strep positive so if I'm stuck do I drive myself?

I assume you have not been in labour before otherwise you would not entertain this idea

what about a taxi?

I drove 25km with two kids in the car while in labour, but not after 5cm. I wouldn't recommend it to be honest.

I wouldn't, you might cause an accident. Not too sure about insurance covering you either in this situation. I have 2 dd's, both labours were different and both started differently. The first started with broken waters then nothing for hours. The second was contractions. I couldn't walk or speak during them even in the early stages never mind drive! I would keep a taxi number handy!

No it's my second! :-) It all happened v quickly last time so I guess I'm worrying about getting there quick enough, especially as I have to have the antibiotics. Yeah it wouldnt be planned and I agree with the accident part. I had thought that I might have to call an ambulance but would have felt guilty doing so. Will taxi's take women in labour? (Just thinking about waters breaking etc!)

When the time comes, call the hospital MWs. If they think you need to come in and you tell them you don't have transport then they will be able to advise you. Especially if your first labour was very fast.

I would ask your midwife about the situation with ambulances and labour, I think if your labour was really quick she might advise you to do so. At least if she says call one you can do it with less guilt! Maybe give your local taxi service a ring too and ask them about taking women in labour. I would say they probably do, you can get disposable inco sheets from the chemist to sit on if you are worried about waters etc! Good luck!

Thanks for the tips - hadn't worried too much about it until other peoples posts got me thinking. I'll add a disposable sheet to my shopping list! :)

I drove myself to hospital when my waters went and wasn't sure whether or not I was having contractions. It turned out I was having mild contractions but I was sent home again as they were not bothering me and I was not distracted from driving. However, when proper contractions kicked in some 8 hours later DH drove me to hospital. There is no way I would have been able to drive during a proper contraction!

So, unless you are planning on going to the hospital very very early before the big contractions kick in I would recommend you have your father or taxi on standby.

taxi would be ok

I drove myself in with dd1. My waters went but I didn't have any real contractions. I had to have antibiotics too.

I wouldn't have been able to drive myself with my other dc as contractions started first and were too painful to concentrate through.

If you were quick last time, you could be even quicker this time.

Please don't risk this. Taxi or ambulance.

Mmmm, well I drove myself to hospital when in labour with dc2. I no it sounds odd but I was not sure that they were true contractions as my 1st labour was induced at 36 weeks due to rupture of membranes and the contractions were very strong/intense. Compared to that 2nd labour felt almost like tummy cramp. Anyhow, on arrival at labour ward I was 7cm dialated and not even allowed to leave the unit to park car properly!!! I will add that the hospital is about 2 miles away!!! I would not have done it had I realised but at least all was well in the end

Couldn't you ask a neighbour to help you out?

my mother cycled herself to hospital when she was in labour, but I really wouldn't recommend cycling or driving. Would a community midwife be able to come and give you the antibiotics at home?

There was a previous thread on here about taxis in labour, it seemed that most companies were more than happy, but people recommended that you took a bin bag with a towel ontop to sit on just in case waters broke.
I'm planning to get a taxi, personally I would feel very guilty calling an ambulance for a predictable event and like to have my journey planned in case dh is stuck at work.

I got a taxi with DD1. It's a hassle free way of getting you there as they drop you off at the door and DP can come with you straight away rather than mucking about finding a parking space. Really helped at our big city centre hospital anyhow.

Thanks everyone for the advice. My Dad would come immediately if its the middle of the night and I do have some good neighbours but they work during the day and share the childcare so prob wouldnt be able to help. I think I'll speak to a taxi firm a few weeks beforehand and explain the situation and it'll reassure me that I've got another option.

My SIL drove herself there and home again a few hours later with baby! Ker-azy!

MW told us doing this would invalidate insurance and we might well cause an accident.

DP can be away for work so my back up plan is a taxi, though I am going to call and check in advance that they'll be ok with it and choose accordingly.